Battery module

ABSTRACT

A battery module includes a battery cell, a flexible shell and a supporting seat. The battery cell has a main body and two electrodes extended outwardly from the main body; the flexible shell has an upper and lower lid plates, both of which are connected and cooperated to each other to envelop the battery cell, and which are provided for the electrodes to extend out and respectively have an upper and lower adhesive parts, both of which are adhered to each other; and, the supporting seat is provided for arranging the flexible shell, in which the flexible shell further has an extending part, which is extended from one of the upper, lower adhesive parts towards the supporting seat and has an adhesive layer adhered to the supporting seat by a thermal pressing process, such that the flexible shell and the supporting seat can be connected securely.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention in general relates to a battery module, and inparticular, to a battery module adaptable for electronic device.

2. Description of Prior Art

Currently, secondary battery has already applied to common portableelectronic devices comprehensively, for example, mobile phone, digitalcamera, notebook computer, etc. However, following the trends that thesizes of these portable electronic devices are shrunk and the using timeis prolonged, the power of the secondary battery adopted by thesedevices is increased, whereby there is more waste heat generated fromthe secondary battery. Therefore, improving the heat dissipation of thesecondary battery has become an issue intended to be addressed by eachmanufacturer urgently.

Please refer to FIG. 1, showing a perspective explosive view of thefixing structure of a prior secondary battery. This prior secondarybattery 1 a includes a battery cell 11 a, a flexible shell 12 a, asupporting seat 20 a and a plurality of double-sided tapes 30 a, inwhich the flexible shell 12 a is adapted for sealing the battery cell 11a. In the meantime, there is a thermally pressing section c′ at outersides of the flexible shell 12 a, while the flexible shell 12 a isadhered into the supporting seat 20 a through the double-sided tapes 30a.

However, this kind of structure still has several drawbacks in terms ofpractical use. Firstly, since the connection between the flexible shell12 a and the supporting seat 20 a is made by the adhesion of thedouble-sided tapes 30 a, this kind of adhering manner has a doubtconcerning the strength and a great influence on the normal operation ofthe secondary battery 1 a. In addition, under an operation of long time,the double-sided tapes 30 a are easily lack of stickiness, making theflexible shell 12 a falling off from the supporting seat 20 a. Secondly,since the secondary battery 1 a is sealed in an outer shell (not shownin the figures), when the flexible shell 12 a is occurred a loosing off,it is impossible to open the outer shell to undergo a re-adheringprocess. Renew the secondary battery is the only solution, which raisesthe using cost of the secondary battery on a large scale.

Furthermore, since the connection between the flexible shell 12 a andthe supporting seat 20 a is made by the adhesion of the double-sidedtapes 30 a, making the flexible shell 12 a contact with the supportingseat 20 a only through the double-sided tapes 30 a, the heat generatedfrom the battery cell 11 a can only be transferred to the supportingseat 20 a via the double-sided tapes 30 a. By so doing, since theheat-transferring efficiency of the double-sided tapes 30 a is poor, thebattery cell 11 a is easily overheated. Even the whole bottom surface ofthe flexible shell 12 is covered with double-sided tapes 30 a toincrease the heat-transferring area, but the help to increase itsheat-transferring efficiency is still quite limited, not to mention thatthe manufacturing cost of the secondary is increased.

Therefore, how to improve and solve the aforementioned problems is anissue intended to be addressed by the inventor.

Accordingly, after a substantially devoted study, in cooperation withthe application of relatively academic principles, the inventor hasfinally proposed the present invention that is designed reasonably topossess the capability to improve the drawback of the prior artsignificantly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is mainly to provide a battery module, in which anadhesive layer is adhered to a supporting seat, such that a flexibleshell can be connected to the supporting seat securely.

Secondly, the invention is to provide a battery module, including abattery cell, a flexible shell and a supporting seat. According to theinvention, the battery cell has a main body and two electrodes extendedoutwardly from the main body; the flexible shell has an upper and lowerlid plates, both of which are connected and cooperated to each other toenvelop the battery cell, and which are provided for the electrodes toextend out and respectively have an upper and lower adhesive parts, bothof which are adhered to each other; and, the supporting seat is providedfor arranging the flexible shell, in which the flexible shell furtherhas an extending part, which is extended from one of the upper, loweradhesive parts towards the supporting seat and has an adhesive layeradhered to the supporting seat by a thermal pressing process.

Compared to the prior arts, the invention has the following advantageousfunctions. Firstly, the drawback of the prior secondary battery, whichan insufficiently adhesive strength exists between the flexible shelland the supporting seat, can be solved by thermally pressing theadhesive layer of the extending part to be adhered to the supportingseat, such that the flexible shell is connected securely onto thesupporting seat and the connecting strength is enhanced surely.Secondly, another drawback of the fixing structure of the priorsecondary battery, which the cause of the reduction of theheat-dissipating efficiency comes from too small heat-transferring areaformed by the double-sided tapes, can be solved by the adaptation of theinvention. Thirdly, by designing a structure where the extending part ofthe flexible shell is exposed, the heat generated by the battery cellcan be carried away by an external air flown into the supporting seat,such that the cooling performance of the battery module can be furtherpromoted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth withparticularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, maybe best understood by reference to the following detailed description ofthe invention, which describes several exemplary embodiments of theinvention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective explosive view of the fixing structure of aprior secondary battery;

FIG. 2 is a perspective explosive view of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a manufacturing status perspective view (1) of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a manufacturing status perspective view (2) of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a manufacturing status perspective view (3) of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a manufacturing status perspective view (4) of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective explosive view of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view along the sectional line “8-8” in FIG.7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective outer view of another embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In cooperation with attached drawings, the technical contents anddetailed description of the present invention are described thereinafteraccording to a number of preferable embodiments, not used to limit itsexecuting scope. Any equivalent variation and modification madeaccording to appended claims is all covered by the claims claimed by thepresent invention.

Please refer to FIG. 2, showing a perspective explosive view of theinvention. Also, refer to FIG. 7 together. The invention is to provide abattery module 1, including a battery cell 11, a flexible shell 12 and asupporting seat 20.

The battery cell 11 has a main body 111 and two electrodes 112, 113extended outwardly from the main body 111. These two electrodes 112, 113respectively are a positive electrode 112 and a negative electrode 113interspaced with the positive electrode 112. In this embodiment, themain body 111 is a thin cuboid shown as a plate shape, but not limitedto this configuration only. The positive electrode 112 and the negativeelectrode 113 are extended outwardly from one side of this cuboid.

The original shape of the flexible shell 12 is a rectangular sheet,including a polypropylene (PP) layer 12 b, an aluminum foil layer 12 coverlapped beneath the polypropylene layer 12 b and a nylon layer 12 doverlapped beneath the aluminum foil layer 12 d. The structure of thesethree layers constitutes this flexible shell 12. In addition, thepolypropylene layer 12 b can be replaced by another kind ofthermoplastic plastic, however, not limited to these kinds of materialsonly. In addition, the nylon layer 12 d is located on the outer surfaceof the flexible shell 12 and is capable of the functions of wearresistance and protection. One thing needed to mention is that the nylonlayer 12 d can be skipped during a practical execution.

More specifically, the rectangular sheet is folded to form an upper lidplate 121 of the flexible shell 12 and a lower lid plate 122 connectedto the upper lid plate 121. One thing needed to notice is that thepolypropylene layer 12 b is located at an inside of the flexible shell12 after being folded. The upper lid plate 121 has an upper adhesivepart 1211, while the lower lid part 122 has a lower adhesive part 1221.The upper adhesive part 1211 and the lower adhesive part 1221 areadhered to each other by thermally pressing the polypropylene layers 12b, both of which are faced to each other.

The manufacturing process of the battery module 1 of the invention isdescribed thereinafter. Firstly, an indentation b is formed on the lowerlid plate 122 by a stamping process. Then, the battery cell 11 is placedin the indentation b. Next, the upper lid plate 121 is folded and coversthe indentation b of the lower lid plate 122. Finally, the upper lidplate 121 and the lower lid plate 122 are closed to each other bythermally pressing the upper adhesive part 1211 and the lower adhesivepart 1221 together, while the surface layers of both adhesive parts areall the polypropylene layers 12 b.

Please refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, showing the manufacturing statusperspective views of the invention. After the upper lid plate 121 coverson the indentation b, the upper lid plate 121 surrounding the batterycell 11 is adhered to the lower lid plate 122 by a thermally pressingprocess with machines and tools, making the upper adhesive part 1211 andthe lower adhesive part 1221 adhered to each other, forming the flexibleshell 12 and a thermally pressing section c at the outer sides of theflexible shell 12. At this time, the battery cell 11 is completelysealed and enveloped by this flexible shell 12. Only, the positiveelectrode 111 and the negative electrode 112 are exposed to the outsideof this flexible shell 12. Furthermore, there are a plurality ofextending parts 13 formed from the upper lid plate 121 and the lower lidplate 122 and located at the outside of the thermally pressing section cand at two sides of the battery cell 11. Meanwhile, the extending parts13 have a plurality of adhesive layers 1321, 1331 adhered to thesupporting seat 20 by a thermally pressing process.

Please refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, also showing the manufacturing statusperspective views of the invention. Next, one side of the extending part13 is clipped into a bevel 131. By so doing, it is easy to inverselyfold the extending part 13 to the outside to form an “L” shape andexpose the polypropylene layer 12. The extending part 13 includes afirst extending part 132 and a second extending part 133 overlapped thefirst extending part 132. In FIG. 6, the first extending part 132 andthe second extending part 133 are vertical to each other, however, notlimited to this configuration only. In addition, the first extendingpart 132 has an adhesive layer 1321, and the second extending part 133also has an adhesive layer 1331.

Please refer to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, respectively showing a perspectiveexplosive view of the invention and a cross-sectional view along thesectional line “8-8” in FIG. 7. The supporting seat 20 includes aplurality of enclosing plates 21 connected to each other. Anaccommodating space d is formed among these enclosing plates forarranging the flexible shell 12 therein. In this embodiment, thesupporting seat 20 is a ring frame shown as a square shape, but notlimited to this configuration only. On the other hand, the supportingseat 20 can also be a “U” frame or an “L” frame.

The flexible shell 12 is placed in the accommodating space d, while theupper and lower surfaces of the flexible shell 12 are exposed, such thatthe heat-transferring efficiency of the battery module 1 can be raised.

The adhesive layer 1321 and the adhesive layer 1331 of the extendingpart 13, formed as an “L” shape, are respectively connected and adjacentto the top face and the outer wall of the enclosing plate 21. Namely,the first extending part 132 is connect adjacently to the top face ofthe enclosing plate 21 by adhesion, while the second extending part 133is folded reversely, making the polypropylene layer 12 b connectedadjacently to the top face of the enclosing plate 21. In thisembodiment, this supporting seat 20 is made of a material of rubber. Bythe machines and tools (not shown in the figures), the first extendingpart 132 is adhered to the outer wall of the enclosing plate 21 by athermally pressing process. Since the first extending part 132 isconnected to the enclosing plate 21, the flexible shell 12 and thesupporting seat 20 can be jointed securely.

Please refer to FIG. 9, which shows a cross-sectional view of the secondembodiment of the invention, which is substantially same as the firstembodiment. The only difference between them is that the secondextending part 133 is folded reversely with the first extending part 132adhered to the top face of the enclosing plate 21 by a thermallypressing process. In the meantime, the second extending part 133 isconnected adjacently to the top face of the enclosing plate 21 as well.In this embodiment, the first extending part 132 and the secondextending part 133, both of which are connected to the top face of theenclosing plate 21, are equal in length.

Please refer to FIG. 10, which is a perspective outer view of anotherembodiment of the invention, in which the battery modules 1 can bestacked over one by one. By overlapping the supporting seats one by one,the number of the battery modules 1 can be varied according to thepractical use and need. In addition, a recessing trough 211 is arrangedat the bottom of the enclosing plate 21 for the first extending part 132to pass through, facilitating the aluminum foil layer 12 c (please referto FIG. 9) in processing heat dissipation. In the meantime, the gapsformed by the recessing troughs 211 can facilitate the external airflowing into the space between two battery modules to raise the coolingefficiency. In addition, the battery module 1 further includes an outershell (not shown in the figures), which seals the battery cell 11, theflexible shell 12 and the supporting seat 20 to form a completesecondary battery.

According to the invention, since the inner layer of the flexible shellis a polypropylene layer, which not only can envelop the battery cell bya thermally pressing and adhering process, but also the polypropylenelayer of the extending part of the flexible shell can be adhered to thesupporting seat by a thermally pressing process without the use of thedouble-sided tapes according to the prior arts so, not only the cost issaved, but also the connecting strength between the flexible shell andthe supporting seat can be effectively raised.

Summarizing aforementioned description, the invention is anindispensably novel structure for a battery module indeed, which maypositively reach the expected usage objective for solving the drawbacksof the prior arts, and which extremely possesses the innovation andprogressiveness to completely fulfill the applying merits of new typepatent, according to which the invention is thereby applied. Pleaseexamine the application carefully and grant it as a formal patent forprotecting the rights of the inventor.

However, the aforementioned description is only a number of preferableembodiments according to the present invention, not used to limit thepatent scope of the invention, so equivalently structural variation madeto the contents of the present invention, for example, description anddrawings, is all covered by the claims claimed thereinafter.

1. A battery module, including: a battery cell, which has a main bodyand two electrodes extended outwardly from the main body; a flexibleshell, which has an upper and lower lid plates, both of which areconnected and cooperated to each other to envelop the battery cell, andwhich are provided for the electrodes to extend out and respectivelyhave an upper and lower adhesive parts, both of which are adhered toeach other; and, a supporting seat, which is provided for arranging theflexible shell; wherein the flexible shell further has an extendingpart, which is extended from one of the upper, lower adhesive partstowards the supporting seat and has an adhesive layer adhered to thesupporting seat by a thermally press process.
 2. The battery moduleaccording to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower lid plates areconstituent of a polypropylene layer and an aluminum foil layeroverlapped the polypropylene layer, and wherein the adhesive layer ismade of a material of polypropylene.
 3. The battery module according toclaim 2, wherein the upper and lower lid plates further include a nylonlayer overlapped the aluminum layer.
 4. The battery module according toclaim 1, wherein the extending part includes a first extending part anda second extending part overlapped the first extending part, on both ofwhich the adhesive layer is located, and wherein the supporting seatincludes a plurality of enclosing plates connected to each other and theadhesive layer is connected adjacently to one of the enclosing plates.5. The battery module according to claim 4, wherein the adhesive layerof the first extending part is adjacently connected by adhering to anouter wall of the enclosing plate, while the second extending part isadjacently connected to a top face of the enclosing plate.
 6. Thebattery module according to claim 4, wherein the adhesive layer of thefirst extending part is adjacently connected by adhering to a top faceof the enclosing plate, while the second extending part is adjacentlyconnected to the top face of the enclosing plate as well.
 7. The batterymodule according to claim 6, wherein the first extending part and thesecond extending part, both of which are adjacently connected to the topface of the enclosing plate, have a equal length.
 8. The battery moduleaccording to claim 4, wherein the enclosing plates form an accommodatingspace for arranging the flexible shell therein.
 9. The battery moduleaccording to claim 1, wherein an upper surface and a lower surface ofthe flexible shell are exposed to an outside.